Folding loose-bottom box



O. C. FENLASON.

1,381,978, PatentedJuneZl, 1921.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

v 0, (fife/M072,

INVENTOR,

0 C. FENLASON. FOLDING LOOSE BOTTOM BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1919.

Patented J une 21, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR,

6 6T eizZQwam A'FI'ORNEY 0. C. FENLASON.

FOLDING LOOSE BOTTOM BOX.

SIIEET 3.

ATTORNEY 1 R o T N E v m Patented June 21, 1921.

3 SHEETS APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, I919 K1113??? II PATENT OFFICE.

CRIN C. FENLASON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

FOLDING LOOSE-BOTTOM BOX.

Application filed September 30, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ORIN C. FENLASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Folding Loose-Bottom Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boxes or containers for berries, fruit or the like, and the object is to provide a box of this character, which may be constructed of thin wood veneer and so formed as to be capable of being folded into a flat, compact form, whereby such boxes may be bundled together in large quantities to facilitate their shipment.

A further object is to provide a folding box having one or more detachable or loose bottom members provided with integral up standing, supplemental side portions or flaps which strengthen the sides proper and prevent the outward bellying of thelatter when the box is filled, and which, by reason of the upstanding grain of the wood therein, allow of the filled boxes being stacked in piles, without danger of injuring the contents thereof.

Another object is to provide such a box with a minimum number of component parts formed with the least amount of machine work to provide the necessary scoring for bending purposes, and wherein provision is made for preventing any diminution in the capacity of the box due to shrinkage of the veneer after the box is formed.

A still furtherobject is to provide a folding box having the above advantages, and to secure the parts together with a minimum number of staples or fasteners which are placed in a position where they may not come into contact with the contents of the box, a feature which has been found to be of value by packers and shippers.

A full and complete understanding of the inventionmay be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is notto beconfinedthereto, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications marl: no material departure from the sal ent features of the inventi n; as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Serial No. 327,497.

specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved box set up and ready to be filled.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the strip of veneer composing the'sides of the box, and shown folded at the corner scores,-

prior' to being fastened.

Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the two loose bottom members, folded and: in-

terfitted, prior to being placed within the member comprising the sides of the box.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the loose top members of the box, the two members being 5, and showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, there is shown what may be called the main or body portion of the improved foldable box, which is composed of a relatively long, narrow strip of ordinary, commercial wood veneer, the grain of the wood running longitudinally of the said strip, as illustrated. This'strip is provided with suitable transverse scores extending from edge to edge of the strip, said scores being equidistant apart and readily formed at the same timethe stripis formed and severedi The strip is thus provided with four sides or panels'2of equal lengths and widths and securely held together at their ends, it being of course understoodl that the said scoring is only partly through the sheet of veneer and leaves suflicientcom nection to withstand any strain to which the joint might be. subjected in ordinaryuse;

At one end of one of. the terminal sidesor panels 2, a shorter section or flap: 3: is con nected in similar manner, said flap being adapted, after the strip is bent: into rec tangular form, to 'lie in overlapping: relation to the adjacent end edge of the other ll i s ,p fil 0. be Securely-prob" said cleats being preferably shorter than the' adjacent panel so as not to interfere with the bending of. the corners along the scores 1. These cleats reinforce and tend to prevent any outward bellying of the side panels 2,

thus materially strengthening the same, and

serve to support the bottom members illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. I

These members are eachcomposed of a strip of veneer, having the grainof the wood running longitudinally thereof and transversely scored and bent as at16, to form bottom sections 7 and perpendicularly disposed end sections 8, the bottom sections being of dimensions'to be readily placed within the rectangular body member, and the height of the said end sections 8 being substantially coincident with the depth of the said body member. These bottom .sections are placed in position within the latter and upon the cleats,.said bottom sections being at rightangles to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 3., Thus it will be seen that the box is provided with double bottoms and double walls on all four sides, and that the said bottom members may be readily removed from the encircling side walls of the body portion, and folded separately, for the purpose of forming-into packs; for transportation.

Since the shrinkage of wood veneer is always in one direction transverse to the grainof the wood forming the same, it will readily be seen that no change in the capacity of the box can result therefrom, for should the outer side-Walls or panels of the body portion shrink transversely, thus reducing their height, the end sections 8 of the bottom members} will not be affected as to their height, and the original depth of the box will be maintained on all four sides. For the same reason, the width of the inner, up-

standing end sections 8 may be reduced,but the length of the outer side walls or panels.

in this direction, due tooany shrinkage. Any

I from thebox while in use.

A pairof identical'top members or covers, as illustrated in Fig. 4, are employed to form a complete closure for the box, and these covers which are similar in construction to the bottom members, are each composed of a single strip of veneer, the grain of the wood running longitudinally thereof. The said strips are transversely scored, as at 10 to form' a rectangular top section 11 of dimensions substantially equal to the inter nal dimensions of the main or body member, and having depending terminal flaps 12 carried thereby and adapted to be introduced into the space between the side panels 2and the upstanding end'sections 8 of the bottom members, the said terminal flaps 12 having their side edges tapered, as at 13, for the.

is not liable to split or break under strain,

the up and down direction of the grain of the wood composing the inner, upstanding end sections. 8, being adapted to support considerable weight, should the filled boxes be piled in tiers or stacks as is often done. By reason of the double construction of the bottom sides and top, the box of the present in-' vention can be successfully made larger than ordinarytypes of folding'boxes, and the several parts may be separated and folded flat and bundled for'shipment. 7

To the shipper this box is especially advantageous. There are no parts to fasten and no tongues or flaps to insert through slots, which takes time. The boxes will be supplied to the shipper with the body portion, the bottom members and the cover members bound in separate bundles. It takes but a moment to unfold the ,body portion and slip in a pair of bottom members and thus complete the. box. If a cover is required, the

cover members may he slipped in place with equal ease. 1

What is claimed is 1. A foldable loose bottom box comprising a body member formed of a single strip of veneer with the grain running longitudinally thereof, scored transversely and bent along said score lines to form the side panels of the box, the twoe'nds being stapledforming a rectangular box whichmay be folded flat, cleats stapled to the inner faces of the panels at the bottom edges thereof, said cleats terminating short of the score lines so as not to interfere with the folding of said body member, and said cleats reinforcing the body member and serving as supports, loose bottom members formed of single strips of veneer, with the grain running longitudinally thereof, and scored and bent to form bottom sections adapted to rest upon the said cleats, and upstanding end sections to bear against the inner faces of the side panels, and being substantially equal in length to the height of said panels, said bottom members being arranged at right angles to each other and placed crosswise of and loosely upon each other and supported solely by said cleats.

2. A foldable loose bottom box, comprising a rectangular body member formed of a single piece of veneer scored transversely, whereby the body member may be folded fiat, cleats secured to the inner faces and along the bottom edges of the panels of the body member, and terminating short of the score lines, said cleats reinforcing the body member and serving as supports, and loose bottom members formed of single strips of veneer scored transversely, forming bottom sections to rest upon said cleats, and upstanding end sections to bear against the inner faces of the panels of the body member and being substantially equal in length to the height of said panels, said bottom members being placed within the body members crosswise of and loosely upon each other and supported by said cleats, and cover members formed of a pair of separate strips of veneer scored transversely to form a top and end flaps, said cover members being arranged crosswise of each other, with the end flaps inserted between the panels of the body member and the end sections of the bottom members, thereby forming a box with each side of three thicknesses of veneer, and the bottom of two thicknesses.

3. A foldable loose bottom box comprising a body member composed of a single strip of wood veneer, with the grain running longitudinally thereof, and scored transversely at equal distances and bent along said scores to form the side panels, the two ends being secured together forming a rectangular box which may be folded flat, cleats secured to the inner faces of the panels at the bottom edges thereof, loose bottom members formed of single strips of veneer, with the grain running longitudinally thereof, and scored and bent to form bottom sections adapted to rest on said cleats, and upstanding end sections to bear against the inner faces of the side panels, said bottom members being arranged at right angles to each other and supported by said cleats and placed crosswise of each other, and a cover formed of a strip of veneer with the grain running longitudinally thereof and scored and bent to form a top and depending end flaps which are inserted between the side panels and end sections of the bottom members to hold the cover in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OR'IN O. FENLASON.

Witnesses:

B. A. PARISH, ED MILLER. 

